When the two arrived at the entrance, two scholars in blue robes immediately came forward to greet them. Clearly, neither recognized Hu Xiaotian. Both bowed deeply to Xu Zhengying. "Your juniors, Qiu Zhigao and Qiu Zhitang, pay their respects to you, Lord Xu."
"No need to stand on ceremony," Xu Zhengying said with a smile. "This is a literary gathering. We can dispense with the formal courtesies of officialdom." He turned to Hu Xiaotian. "My dear nephew, these two are celebrated talents here in the capital, the sons of Lord Qiu, the Grand Astrologer."
Hu Xiaotian made a show of cupping his hands. "I have long admired your illustrious names-they thunder in my ears!" In truth, he had never heard of either of them, or even their father, until now. Still, whether he knew them or not, appearances demanded a little sham courtesy.
The brothers, Qiu Zhigao and Qiu Zhitang, returned his greeting. They had no idea who this fellow was, but since he had arrived with Xu Zhengying, Vice Minister of Revenue, he was presumably a relative or a pupil. The brothers had organized this gathering themselves. Their father, Qiu Qingshan, was the Grand Astrologer. Although his office was only of the Subordinate Fifth Rank, he held a very important position at court. Currently compiling the Great Kang Annals, he was a renowned Confucian scholar of prodigious learning in Great Kang.
Xu Zhengying did not introduce him to them, either. He dreaded anyone discovering Hu Xiaotian's identity. Better if they simply took him for an attendant.
Qiu Zhigao led the way upstairs.
This was Hu Xiaotian's first outing to a social event of this kind, and everything around him seemed novel. He kept gawking this way and that, like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.
The gathering was on the fifth floor. More than a dozen people had already arrived and stood in little clusters, discussing literature while swaying their heads. Hu Xiaotian had belonged to a literary society back at university, and his knowledge of classical Chinese studies was at a master's-degree level. Still, when he looked around, he found not a single familiar face.
Xu Zhengying enjoyed a considerable literary reputation and frequently attended such gatherings. As he was also a third-rank official, his arrival immediately attracted everyone's attention. The young and middle-aged literary men hurried over to cultivate his acquaintance. Surrounded by them, he had no time to look after Hu Xiaotian.
Naturally, Hu Xiaotian was left on the sidelines. He did not mind. Finding himself a seat beside a window, he picked up the teapot, poured a cup, and admired the expanse of sky outside, all washed in one color.
Xu Zhengying was not the only official attending that day, nor was he the highest-ranking. His treatment as the moon surrounded by admiring stars did not last long. With the arrival of Wu Jingshan, Minister of Rites, and Su Qingkun, Deputy Censor-in-Chief, everyone's attention immediately shifted to those two.
Xu Zhengying had originally assumed he would be the highest-ranking official present. He had not expected Wu Jingshan to attend; the man was a senior official of the Principal Third Rank. Nobody willingly played a supporting role, and Xu Zhengying had come expecting to take center stage. Who could have foreseen this? As for Su Qingkun, he held the Subordinate Fourth Rank, half a grade below Xu Zhengying. Both men were regulars at these gatherings. Xu Zhengying felt displeased. When the Qiu brothers greeted him at the entrance, they had not even mentioned that Wu Jingshan was coming. Had it been an innocent oversight, or deliberate?
Su Qingkun behaved with great deference toward the Minister of Rites. In fact, Wu Jingshan had merely come along with him to join the fun, much as Hu Xiaotian had. Yet his arrival caused an immeasurably greater stir. The moment he appeared, he drew everyone's attention, and the literary men hastened over to pay their respects. Writers of integrity and backbone were celebrated throughout history precisely because rarity made them precious. These scholars' hunger for fame, office, and wealth ran countless times deeper than that of ordinary folk. Seeing a senior third-rank official attend in person, they all scrambled to attach themselves to him.
Wu Jingshan was fifty-three, handsome and distinguished, with an elegant bearing. Although a faint smile rested on his face, he gave an impression of arrogance and coldness. Whoever approached to greet him received that same expression. He could not even be bothered to nod.
Xu Zhengying had little contact with Wu Jingshan, but he knew that the Minister of Rites had long been at odds with his own superior, Hu Buwei. The two had argued repeatedly at court, even in the emperor's presence. Inwardly, he groaned. If Wu Jingshan recognized Hu Xiaotian as Hu Buwei's son, he would almost certainly make trouble for him. Hopefully, Hu Xiaotian would keep his word and obediently play mute. Xu Zhengying glanced over and saw him sitting alone at the table by the window, his head turned toward the scenery outside. He seemed entirely oblivious to what was happening here, which eased Xu Zhengying's mind somewhat.
Only after the crowd dispersed did Xu Zhengying approach and bow with his hands cupped. "This subordinate pays his respects to you, Lord Wu!"
Wu Jingshan lowered his gaze briefly, then let a faint smile curl his lips, with more than a trace of disdain. "Why, isn't this Lord Xu, Vice Minister of Revenue?"
You saw me ages ago. Why put on an act? Xu Zhengying thought. Wearing a beaming smile, he said, "Your presence at our literary gathering lends radiance to the humble Misty Waters Pavilion, Lord Wu. We have long admired your poetry and prose, unrivaled throughout the land. Today, at last, we have the good fortune to witness your exceptional talent."
That string of flattery drew Hu Xiaotian's attention. Xu Zhengying truly was a master at kissing up. He could pour out one nauseating compliment after another without so much as blushing. Hu Xiaotian did not know Wu Jingshan, but the crowd gathered around him, fawning and flattering, made it clear that he was someone important. If even Xu Zhengying was buttering him up like this, he had to be at least a third-rank court official. Perhaps his office was even higher than Hu Xiaotian's father's.
Despite the finesse of Xu Zhengying's flattery, Wu Jingshan seemed unmoved. He merely smiled faintly. "I had nothing to do today. Lord Su mentioned the literary gathering here, so I came along to have a look."
The assembled talents and literary men vied to flatter him. Their wording varied, but it all amounted to praising his talent as eight bushels high, unrivaled past or present, and declaring what an immense honor it was to receive his instruction in person today.
Wu Jingshan was indeed one of Great Kang's celebrated literary talents. Gifted men often suffered from the habit of leaning on their talent to look down on others, treating everyone else as beneath notice. Clearly, Wu Jingshan thought little of this crowd. His official rank was the highest present, and in literary learning, he considered himself second to none.
Xu Zhengying had originally intended to share a table with Hu Xiaotian. Now that Wu Jingshan had arrived, however, respect required him to accompany this senior third-rank official. Unfortunately, the moment Wu Jingshan and Su Qingkun sat down in the central seats, the remaining stools were occupied by the backsides of eager talents intent on currying favor. Xu Zhengying hesitated for a moment and lost his chance to join them.
Xu Zhengying cursed inwardly. At previous gatherings, a third-rank official like him had generally been the center of attention. Today, Wu Jingshan's arrival had instantly changed everything. How cold and fickle the world was! These literary men were even more mercenary and calculating than the common folk scraping together a living.
Reluctantly, Xu Zhengying returned to sit beside Hu Xiaotian. Holding his teacup, Hu Xiaotian narrowed his eyes at Wu Jingshan, who sat like the moon amid admiring stars. "Who's that old fellow?" he asked quietly. "He looks awfully grand."
Xu Zhengying lowered his voice. "Lord Wu Jingshan, Minister of Rites. Beside him is Lord Su Qingkun, Deputy Censor-in-Chief."
Hu Xiaotian nodded as though enlightened. "Which of you has the higher office?"
Xu Zhengying's aging face flushed at the question. Why must you poke at the one sore spot? Still, since Hu Xiaotian had asked, he could hardly refuse to answer. "Lord Wu holds the Principal Third Rank, and Lord Su the Subordinate Fourth Rank," he said quietly. Rather than state who stood above or below whom, he merely supplied their ranks. Hu Xiaotian could work out the comparison himself.
Hu Xiaotian certainly had a persistent streak. "Principal Third Rank means he's one grade above you, and Subordinate Fourth Rank means he's half a grade below. So this old fellow is the highest-ranking official here today. No wonder he looks down his nose at everyone and throws his weight around."
Alarmed by the boy's loose tongue, Xu Zhengying hastily warned him, "Walls have ears. Some things must not be said."
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "Speaking of this Minister of Rites reminds me of something. Didn't he submit a memorial impeaching my father a couple of days ago?" Hu Xiaotian had mostly heard about such matters from the household servants. Liang Dazhuang had a big mouth; whenever he heard any news, he reported it straight to Hu Xiaotian.
Sweat broke out on Xu Zhengying's forehead. It was true, but how had this little scoundrel found out? The half-smile on Hu Xiaotian's face made his skin crawl. Damn it, is this brat thinking of taking revenge? He said quietly, "Differences of political opinion are common at court. Everyone acts in the public interest. There is no personal grudge." Despite his words, he knew perfectly well that relations between Wu Jingshan and Hu Buwei were dreadful, and that they constantly battled both openly and covertly at court.
Hu Xiaotian gave a cold chuckle without answering. He lifted his cup and continued sipping his tea, his darting eyes flicking toward Wu Jingshan from time to time. Who knew what mischief he was plotting?
With Wu Jingshan present, Xu Zhengying naturally became a mere supporting figure. At previous gatherings, they generally sought his permission to begin. Today, they asked Wu Jingshan instead.
Qiu Zhigao approached Wu Jingshan and bowed so deeply that his head nearly poked into the floor. That bend of the waist showed real skill. His display of respect surpassed even the greeting he had given Xu Zhengying earlier.
Hu Xiaotian could not help thinking, If he puts on such an exaggerated performance for a third-rank official, wouldn't he plunge his head straight through the floor if he met a first-rank dignitary? What a bootlicker. Can't he muster a little scholarly backbone? How could I lower my brows and bend my waist to serve the powerful? This bastard hasn't a shred of integrity.
"Lord Wu," Qiu Zhigao asked respectfully, "may we begin the gathering?"
Wu Jingshan smiled without speaking. Su Qingkun, seated beside him, said, "Wait a little longer!" His gaze rested on the doorway, as though he were expecting someone.
Everyone wondered what important person could make this third-rank dignitary wait so patiently. Who could possibly command such deference? While they were still puzzling over it, a booming voice suddenly announced, "Miss Huo has arrived!"
Hu Xiaotian was taken aback. Damn, so this old fellow has been waiting for a girl all along! Who would have thought this sanctimonious old man had so many lustful schemes up his sleeve? Just what sort of girl is worth all this waiting? Hu Xiaotian was unlike the others, who were plainly curious to see her yet forcibly suppressed the urge, maintaining an outward composure as though Mount Tai could collapse before them without changing their expressions. He craned his neck toward the entrance, stopping just short of rising from his chair.
"Woof! Woof!" A burst of barking came from outside.
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